Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the withdrawal of Class 43 HST trains from service in the South West does not affect scheduled services.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is committed to maintaining a reliable timetable in the South West as the High Speed Train (HST) fleet, including Class 43 power cars, is withdrawn. The remaining three units are being withdrawn at the end of the Summer 2025 timetable and there are plans in place to replace them with existing fleet including the Class 175s when they re-enter passenger services.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the treatment of surplus funds held by district councils, including West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council, in the event that those authorities are incorporated into a new unitary authority; and whether such surpluses will be used to offset the existing debts of other authorities within the proposed unitary structure.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
It is expected that assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils. It is essential that councils continue to deliver their business-as-usual services and duties during and after local government reorganisation.
The Department will continue to operate its stewardship function to ensure councils are meeting their Best Value duty. The 2024 Guidance on Best Value Standards and Intervention describes the characteristics of a well-functioning authority, and in relation to handling assets the sections on governance, use of resources, service delivery and partnerships and community engagement are particularly relevant.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the necessary licences for marine autonomy sea trials to take place can be granted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The MCA have engaged with Harbour Masters and the Defence Maritime Regulator to facilitate creation of maritime autonomy sea trial areas. MCA are also in discussions with the Government Legal Department to explore avenues for providing the necessary certification. Necessary guidance is also being drafted to communicate the requirements to all concerned, prior to any agreement.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence SMEs in South West Devon constituency have a) applied for and b) received funding from the Defence and Security Accelerator.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
UK Defence Innovation Defence and Security Accelerator (UKDI-DASA) does not track constituency level data but does track data regionally. There have been 237 UKDI-DASA funded projects in the South West totalling £51.2 million, 169 of those were awarded to Small and Medium Enterprises.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether, under the Devolution Framework, non-mayoral Foundation Strategic Authorities can receive any form of consolidated multi-year settlement.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The devolution framework in the English Devolution White Paper commits to a simplified funding landscape for Mayoral and Foundation Strategic Authorities.
Foundation Strategic Authorities receive a single allocation from the Adult Skills Fund to support education and training for adults aged 19 and above. Foundation Strategic Authorities will also have their transport funding consolidated. Places will be held accountable through a transport-specific accountability framework with a proportionate outcomes framework and metrics. The Government is also committed to providing areas with certainty over the entirety of the Spending Review period. The Local Authority Bus Grant ended the short-term approach to bus funding and gives councils the certainty they need to plan ahead.
The White Paper also set out a clear and transparent pathway to unlocking higher levels of devolution reserved for the most mature institutions, including access to the Integrated Settlement for Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in light of his letter to Cornwall Council stating that he is minded, on an exceptional basis, to explore designating the council as a Single Foundation Strategic Authority, whether the Authority would receive a consolidated multi-year funding settlement as described in the Integrated Settlement framework.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The English Devolution White Paper set out a clear and transparent pathway for areas to be designated as Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities, and thereby become eligible for an Integrated Settlement.
Any future designation of Cornwall Council as a Single Foundation Strategic Authority would mark the beginning of its journey through the devolution framework, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation.
The Government is separately investing in Cornwall’s economic opportunities with a new 'Kernow Industrial Growth Fund' announced by the Chancellor at Autumn Budget 2025. This fund delivers on the Industrial Strategy’s commitment to harness regional strengths. It will provide £30 million over 2026-27 and 2027-28 to Cornwall Council, to invest in Cornwall's sectoral advantages such as critical minerals, renewable energy and marine innovation, subject to business cases. This builds on the Government’s recent £28.6 million National Wealth Fund investment in Cornish Metals, signalling a clear commitment to unlock Cornwall’s potential as a clean growth powerhouse.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence SMEs in South West Devon constituency have a) applied for and b) received funding from the Defence Innovation Fund.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Funding from the Defence Innovation Fund (DiF) is allocated internally to projects within the Ministry of Defence, some of which may include provisions for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs cannot apply directly for funding from the DiF. Constituency-specific data for the DiF is not maintained.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence SMEs in South West Devon constituency have a) applied for and b) received funding from the Exploration Fund.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Funding from the Exploration Fund (ExF) is allocated internally to projects within the Ministry of Defence, some of which may include provisions for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs cannot apply directly for funding from the ExF. Constituency-specific data for the EfX is not maintained.